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Around the Halls: Broadway Sidewalks, Farmers Field, Signage and the Future of the CRA

A reworked signage ordinance attempts to add more teeth to enforcement rules that did nothing to stop supergraphics like this one that went up in May of 2009.

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — Today is Monday, August 8. Broadway sidewalks, Farmers Field, a new signage ordinance and the future of the Community Redevelopment Agency are among the items at City Hall this week.

MONDAY: Public Safety, Personnel and Budget and Finance committees meet.

Neighborhood Council funding is the topic of CF 11-1020, at Budget and Finance. The motion calls for council budgeted and funding processes to be streamlined, and for other potential funding models to be explored.

TUESDAY: Council meets, as do three committees.

$3.8 million in federal and Metro funds to repair Broadway sidewalks between 2nd and 4th is at risk if the city doesn't start construction immediately. CF 11-1292, now at Council, calls for that work to begin immediately.

Jobs and Business Development will take on potential tweaks to the city's business taxes. Included will be a report by USC professor Charles Swenson.

A new signage ordinance goes to Planning and Land Use Management, a year and a half after the last shot at reform failed to move forward. The new rules, attached to CF 08-2020, create a ban on off-site signage, attempt to clarify rules on the create of sign districts and clean up other ordinance features. The report from Planning lists a number of items that it wanted to study, but didn't because of budget constraints.

WEDNESDAY: Council returns, as does Housing, Community and Economic Development committee.

The future of the Community Redevelopment Agency is again up for discussion. Keeping the agency alive would require a payment to the state of $96.5 million in 2011-2012 and between $25 million and $28 million after that. A report by the CAO and CLA—filed under CF 11-0763 calls making the payments and continuing the agency the option with the least risk and liability for the city. The item is at both an 8:30am committee meeting and the 10am Council meeting.

An ordinance to make the purchase of animals on city sidewalks illegal comes up for a second Council vote under CF 09-0632. The motion was approved last week, 11-0, but needed to 12 votes to avoid the second hearing. After a second approval, it would go into effect 30 days after the Mayor signs the bill.